There are days when we all find ourselves doing our makeup on the run. Whether you’re sitting in the back of a cab or someone’s hogging the bathroom, it is sometimes essential to apply your face sans mirror. It’s tricky, but not impossible. The secret is to use your fingertips and go by touch. L’Oréal national makeup artist Lisa Matson says the key is to use products that can be easily applied. “Whatever you do, avoid products that need blending unless you really know your face and your makeup,” she says. Pick subtle colours of peaches and pinks – any shade light enough that if you’re too heavy-handed, it can easily be corrected. Here are our top tips:

Face

If you’re prone to oily skin, your first port of call should be blotting paper, like MAC’s Blot Film, $26, which instantly absorbs excess oil and shine. Next use a BB or CC cream; these act as a moisturiser and are sheer enough to melt into the face. “With a BB cream you won’t have blending issues like you might encounter with a thicker foundation,” Matson says. And because you generally use your fingertips to apply a BB cream, you’ll be able to feel where it’s going, so it won’t end up patchy.

Blush

Applying blush is the easy part. All you need to do is smile so the apples of your cheeks stand out; that way you’ll know exactly where to put it. Once you’ve got bit of blush on your brush, make sure to give it a tap on your hand to remove the excess powder – the last thing you want is two doll-like round patches on your face. A crème blush is the perfect option as the creamy texture will effortlessly blend into your skin. Matson also advises trying “a pink or orange-based lip colour that can work great as a stand-in blush.”

Eyes

Now we won’t lie; the eyes are a challenge. But with the right product you can achieve near-perfection. If you use a black eyeliner on your top lid, swap to a softer brown liner and apply it in the waterline of your lower lid as you’ll be able to follow your lash line easily. As for eye-shadow, use a crème base in a light shade you can sweep over your lid with your fingertips. Or try a shadow pencil, which gives you more control than a brush. A swipe of clear mascara will also tame unruly brows.

Lips

If you’ve got your heart set on a bold red lip – think again. Unless you are a master of applying a bright lipstick without a mirror we wouldn’t suggest even trying. It might not be as eye-catching but a high gloss in a neutral tone is probably all you should attempt because it won’t matter if you don’t get it exactly right.